Bee-comb-frame construction



Aug. 19, 1930. A. P. DAvls BEE COMB FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed June 2, 1928 IN VEN TOR.

@www

A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 19, 1930 ARTHUR 1. DAVIS, 0F SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA BEE-COMB-FRAME CONSTRUCTION Application filed June 2, 1928. Serial No. 282,349.

v This invention relatesl to improvements in bee hives. l Y

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved bee comb frame. A specific object of the invention is to provide a bee comb frame wherein the comb is inserted in the frame'from the top and is supported in grooves in the frame on all sides;

A further object of the invention is to providea bee comb fra-me wherein the various parts which make up the frame may be fabricated and readily assembled Vquickly and eco` nomically with but few operations into a rigid and durable frame. Another object yof the invention is toprovide a novel bee comb foundation which will not warp and which is strong and durable and maybe used over and over again a great many times. A *'Other objects and theadvant'ages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connectionvwith the accompanying drawing wherein;

i Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof my im-V proved bee comb framey showing' a fragment of a bee comb operatively positioned therein.

Fig. 2 is a view on a reduced scale vof a p lurality of my improved frames arranged side by side as they would be in a'hive and shows an end elevation of one of the frames and a cross section of another of the frames.V

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the frame on a reduced scale. 4

Fig. 4 is an elevation of one side of my improved bee comb foundation, and'Fig. 5 is an enlargedsection through vmy-improved bee comb foundation. o

Referring to the I drawings by reference characters I have indicated my improved bee comb framel generally at 10. As shown, this frame comprises end members12 connected by Va, bottom member 14 and top bars l15, Y The end-members 12 are each provided on one face with a groove 16 and the bottom member 111 is provided with a groove 17 The bottom member 111 is notched 'at each end as at 18, and the end members l2l are adapted to be positioned in the notches 18 and secured to the bottom member by nails or other suitable fastening means as indicated at 18a in Figf. When the end members 12 are operatively positioned on the bottom member 14 the grooves 16 of the end members register with the gro-ove 1'? in the bottom member as shown.

The endpmembers 12 are each provided with a'pair of spaced slots 19 adjacent their upper ends inwhich reduced ends v20 of the top bars 15 are positioned. The top bars 15 when operatively positioned on the end members 12 are spaced apart `and form a slet 22 therebetween which registers with the grooves 16l in the jend members ,12, as

clearly shown. The top bars 15 lare secured tothe end members 12 by nails or other suitable fastening means as indicated at 23.

When the top bars 15 are secured to the end members v12 the shoulder 24.- formed at the juncture of thereduced ends 20 and the main body portion ofthe bars engages a portion of the inner face of the end members 12 and a portion of the inner face of the end members engage `the shoulders 25 formed by the notches 18 in the bottom members 14 thereby making the frame 10 very rigid.

The reduced ends 20 of the top bars 15 eX- tend beyond the outer face of the end members 12 to provide supports for the frame 10 when it isl positionedV in a'bee hive and the lowerportion of the end members 12 is reduced as indicated at 26 so that when a kphirality of the frames 10 are positioned side by sider in a'beehive a passageway 27 is formed between the frames as shown in Fig. 2

When it is desired to position a comb base or foundation as yindicated at 28m my improved frameslO it is only necessaryto insert the bottom of the comb in the slot 22 and move it into the frame, whereupon the ends of the comb automatically position themselves in the grooves 16 of the end members and when the comb is fully insertedin the frame the bottom lof the comb ispositioned in the groove-17 of y vthe bottom member 14. vThe frame contain ing a comb is then ready to be positioned in a bee hive. n A

With my improved frame it is not necessary to disassembl'e any of lthe elements of the frame to position a-comb therein, and it is not i necessary to yprovide any other means such as wires as are now generally employed to maintain the comb in the frame, thereby saving much time and labor.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have indicated an improved bee comb generally at 30 which I prefer to use in connection with my improved ee comb `frame 10, but which may also be used with other types of bee comb frames.

As shown this bee comb base or foundation comprises a body portion or foundation 32 made of a relatively stii material such as cardboard having a layer of beeswax 33 adhering or secured to each side. This wax is indented to form the comb shapes as indicated at 34.-.

Owing to the stiff foundation 32 the bee comb foundation 30 willnot sag or warp when it becomes Warm and it may be used over and over again a great many times.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided an improved comb frame which is simple in construction, rigid and durable and one wherein much time and labor is saved when inserting a bee comb base or foundation therein, and furthermore that I have provided a novel bee comb foundation which is simple in construction, durable and economical in use.

Having claim: j

1. In a bee comb frame, spaced end members, a bottom member, said bottom member beingnotched adjacent each end and said end members being positioned in said notches, meana'tosecure said end members to said bottorn member. said end members each being provided with a slot adjacent its upper end, top bars, the ends of said top bars being positimed-in `said slots of said end members, a shoulder on each end of the top bars at the uncturepf said top bars and the end memers.

2. In a bee combrframe, spaced end members, abottom member, means including a rabbeted joint Vto secure said end members to said bottom member, said end members each being iprovided with spaced slots adjacent their up# ends,r top bars, means to secure said tnp bars to said end members,a groove lon the innenfaceof eachof said ,end members and a groove on the inner face of said bottom member, said end member grooves and said bottom member groove being in register. j j In a bee comb frame, spaced end mem- -bere, `a.-bottom member, means .to-secure said and members to said bottom `member, top lparte spaced apart lto provide a slot, means to top -partsto said end members, a

ori-.the inner face of each of ,said end memberkand a groove on the inner face of said bottom member, said end member groovesand said bottom member groove being n vregister and said end memberfgrooves 4inregister withvsaid slot formed in said fue thus described my invention, VIA

4. In a bee comb frame, spaced and members, a bottom member, means to secure said end members to said bottom member, a pair of top bars, said top bars being spaced apart and forming a slot therebetween, means to secure said top bars to said end members, a groove onthe inner face of each of said end members and a groove on the inner face of said bottom member, said end member grooves and said bottom member groove being 1n register and said end member grooves be ing in register with said slot formed between said top bars.

5. In a bee comb frame, spaced ends members, a bottom member, means to secure said end members to said bottom member, said end members each being provided with spaced slots adjacent their upper ends, a pair of top bars, reduced ends on said top bars, said top bars being spaced apart and forming a slot therebetween, means to secure said top bars to said end members, said reduced ends of said top bars projecting beyond the outer faces of said end members to form supports, a groove on the inner face of each of said end members and a groove on the inner face of said bottom member, Vsaid end member grooves and said bottom member groove being in register and said end member grooves being in register with said slot formed between said top bars.

6. In a bee comb frame, spaced end members, a bottom member, said bottom member being notched adjacent each end and said end members being positioned in said notches, means to secure said end members to said bottom member,y said end members each being provided with spaced slots adjacent their upper ends, a top member, reduced ends on said top memberforming shoulders, said reduced ends being positioned in said slots of said end members, the shoulder at the juncture of said reduced portion of said top member and the main portion of said top member engaging the inner faces of said end members, means to secure said topmember to saidl end members, said'reduced ends of said top member projecting beyond the outer face of said end members to form supports.

7. Ina lbee comb frame, spaced end members, a bottom member, said bottom member being notched adjacent each end and said end members being positioned in said notches, means to secure said end members to said bottom member, said end members each being provided with spaced slots adjacent its upper ends, a pair of top bars. reduced ends on said top bars forming shoulders, said top bar reduced ends being positioned in said slots of said end members, said top bars being spaced apart and forming a slot therebetween, theshoulder at the juncture of said reduced portion of said top bars and the main portion of said top bars engaging the inner faces kof saidV end members, means to secure ISO said top bars to said end members, said reduced ends of said top bars projecting beyond the outer face of said end members to form supports, a groove on the inner face of each of said endmembers and a groove on the inner face of said bottom member, said end member grooves and said bottom member groove being in register and said end member grooves being in register with said slot formed between said top bars, the lower portion of said end'members being reduced so that when a plurality of said frames are placed side by side a passageway isformed between said end members of each pair of said frames.k

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my signature. f

ARTHUR P. DAVIS. 

